Holly Willoughby was reportedly offered heightened security amid her return to Dancing On Ice.
The TV presenter, 42, is returning to host the ITV skating show alongside Stephen Mulhern, MailOnline exclusively revealed.
The series kicks off on January 14, almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
Dancing On Ice bosses are said to have offered Holly heightened security and want to make sure she feels completely ‘secure’ on the show, according to The Sun.
The publication also claimed that Holly has signed a one-year rolling contract with an option to step back next year in case she wants a longer break.
Holly Willoughby was reportedly offered heightened security amid her return to Dancing On Ice
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses have been working hard to ensure she feels completely secure, trying not to put any pressure on all while making sure she knows they are ready to support her every step of the way.’
Last week, a source said: ‘Holly is the star of the show. There has been discussion about a plan to increase all security on set so she feels safe.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV and Holly’s representatives for comment.
Holly signed a deal over Christmas after weeks of deliberating over whether to present the show, and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she previously hosted with her former friend Phillip Schofield.
An ITV insider told MailOnline: ‘Holly is a star and everyone was so very much hoping that she would decide to come back.
‘After many discussions and a lot of thought, she thought that getting some normality into her life would be a good thing.
‘There are obvious worries about going on live television, her main priority is her family, ITV have been hugely understanding and have not put any pressure on her at all.
‘They wanted to give her all of the time she needed but it has been a rough decision for her. Time was ticking but the bosses were trying to remain calm.’
The TV presenter, 42, is returning to host the ITV skating show alongside Stephen Mulhern , MailOnline exclusively revealed
Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, said: ‘Holly and Stephen are two of our best loved presenters, so reuniting them 20 years after they first appeared on screen together to host Dancing On Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show.’
ITV also shared a post to Instagram which read: ‘Dancing On Ice news 20 years since they first worked together, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern join forces for the greatest show on ice.’
Stephen, who hosts ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, is a close friend of Holly and signed a deal to host Dancing On Ice Iast week after agreeing to step into Schofield’s shoes.
ITV did not have a stand-in for Holly waiting in the wings, however, meaning that all hopes were pinned on her.
Holly and Phillip, 61, had co-hosted Dancing On Ice from its inception in 2006 until 2011.
Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014.
The series was then revived by ITV in 2018, with both Holly and Phillip returning as hosts up until this year.
Phillip was then fired by ITV after he admitted to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague, immediately ending his contract at This Morning.
Stephen emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Phillip, after presenting spinoff series Defrosted for a year back in 2006 and standing in for Phillip when he fell ill with Covid last year.
Dancing On Ice bosses are said to have offered Holly heightened security and want to make sure she feels completely ‘secure’ on the show
After weeks of deliberating over whether to host, Holly signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show (pictured with Phillip Schofield in on the last series)
The TV presenter confirmed in October that he was in talks with bosses to join as co-host after Phillip’s departure.
Stephen told MailOnline it would be ‘amazing’ to front the show and that co-hosting alongside longtime friend and colleague Holly always makes for a ‘great time’.
He said: ‘I used to do the spinoff show Defrosted and when I stood in for Phil when he wasn’t too well, he had Covid, I really enjoyed it and it was so lovely being back with Holly.
‘We had a great time together plus lots of the team were the same from when I did the ITV2 show.
‘We are talking about it, but I promise you now that nothing is confirmed but if it happens, it will be absolutely amazing… if it doesn’t, look, it doesn’t. I promise you I would tell you if we had it confirmed at this point.
‘The lineup is the best it has been in a few years… I am keeping across the lineup, just in case… It is a huge staple, and it has been around.’
Holly’s future on the show had been thrown into doubt after she stepped down from This Morning after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’.
The mother-of-three, who originally joined This Morning in 2009, released a statement saying she was leaving the show ‘for the sake of her family’.
Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap the former This Morning host. The security guard will remain behind bars after being denied bail.
During a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application. He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year.
It comes after Holly stepped down from This Morning in October (pictured in September 2023) after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’
Holly has also paused her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer because she remains fearful for her safety.
She has fronted collections for the high street chain since 2018 but told bosses that she needs to take time out from the contract while she comes to terms with her terror over the case.
The star usually fronts several ‘capsule’ collections per year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.
She has also frozen her seven-figure deal with L’Oreal, as the face of its Garnier Nutrisse hair dye. She has not taken part in any promotional activity with the brand.
It is not known whether she has forgone any income from the contracts.
